How big will a Norfolk Island pine get?
As the name suggests, it is native to the Island of Norfolk, a tiny island near New Zealand. In its native habitat it will easily reach more than100 feet tall — thankfully, it rarely reaches more than 20 feet tall inside most homes. With proper care, Norfolk Island pines can live for a long time as a house plant for both indoor and outdoor environments. It is very important, however, that you are careful not to over-water or over-fertilize.Norfolk Island Pines prefer temperatures between 65°F–85°F (18°C–30°C). It’s best not to let it go below 60°F (15°C). If your outdoor temperatures do not dip below 60°F, you can put your Norfolk Island Pine outside.Tropical and native to islands in the South Pacific, Norfolk Island pines have the potential of growing over 100 feet tall, but they usually stand firm at 10 feet or fewer when grown indoors.Even though Norfolk Island pines are remarkably salt-tolerant, they have a weak link: Very low temper- atures (30 to 32 degrees Fahren- heit) can cause the growing tips to die and abort. Worse still, tempera- tures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit can cause severe freeze damage.
What is Norfolk Island pine used for?
In addition to being used as an ornamental plant, their wood is used for construction, woodturning, and crafts. As houseplants, Norfolk Island pines grow slowly, about 3 to 6 inches a year and they typically will reach heights of 6 to 8 feet, although they can grow taller. Light requirement. Position the Norfolk Island Pine in an open, bright location, but not in full sun. It’s tolerant of low light, and will thrive in locations where many foliage plants requiring more light would not grow satisfactorily. Natural light may be supplemented by either fluorescent or incandescent sources.Norfolk Island pines are popular indoor trees, especially around Christmas, when people bring them home to add a unique touch to their festive decor. Known for their soft, lush needles and gentle pine scent, it’s relatively easy to care for these beautiful trees.Norfolk Island Pines love bright, indirect light. Place your plant near a sunny window, but make sure it doesn’t sit in the direct sun all day. Too much sunlight can cause the needles to brown, while too little light can make the plant grow leggy (stretched out) as it searches for the sun.Keep your Norfolk Pine in good shape Snip them off at the trunk. Be sure to only trim around the base of the plant, not the top, because this evergreen doesn’t branch like other plants. A little pruning will encourage it to grow fuller and bushier, just don’t remove too much foliage at one time.
What is the life expectancy of a Norfolk pine?
Though not true pines, they’re part of a plant family that dates back to prehistoric times. In modern home landscapes, where frost-free climates or protected locations allow, Norfolks are known to live 150 years or more. Misting benefits the Norfolk pine, as well as fertilizing every two weeks with Art Knapp 20-20-20 during their active growing months between February and September. Repotting should only take place every 2-3 years, as they like to be root bound.Although they prefer full sun whenever possible, Norfolk Island pines can also handle relatively long periods (months at a time) in dimmer conditions. Thus, you can keep your potted plant indoors during the winter and then move it to a sunny spot outdoors when the summer comes around.The Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is another option for having a live Christmas tree during the holiday season. This tree is quite different from a typical pine in the Iowa landscape. It is a tropical plant, and must remain indoors during the winter months.Keep in mind that Norfolk Island pines love humidity, so misting their foliage every day or two will keep them green and smiling. For future waterings, once the top of the soil feels dry, water your Norfolk to ensure it does not dry out; they like being moist but not drenched.
Is Norfolk Island pine indoor or outdoor?
Norfolk Island pines are capable of growing both indoors and outdoors. While they have preferred growing conditions, they are quite forgiving and can thrive in a variety of settings. Outdoors, plant this tree in porous, moderately moist, porous and sandy soil in a full sun location. Apply a balanced (20-20-20) liquid fertilizer to Norfolk Island Pine every two (2) weeks during the growing period. In the summer, especially if grown outdoors, feed plants with an acid fertilizer such as rhododendron food as the high nitrogen concentration stimulates better foliage growth.During the growing season (spring through summer), feed your Norfolk pine every 4-6 weeks with a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer diluted to half strength. Skip fertilizing in fall and winter, when the plant is naturally less active.Indoors, it should be watered every one to two weeks, until excess moisture starts draining out of the bottom of the pot. Outdoor Norfolk pine trees prefer the soil to remain somewhat moist. Once established, it will tolerate somewhat dry conditions.Norfolk pines have a relatively moderate growth rate, especially when they are young. In ideal conditions with proper care, they can grow up to 1 to 2 feet per year. The growth rate is likely to slow down as the tree matures, but it still maintains a fairly steady and manageable pace.
How quickly do Norfolk pines grow?
That is not likely to happen in your living room, however! Under good condition indoors, a Norfolk Island pine will grow to 5 to 8 feet tall in about 10 years. I’ve had my little tree just over a year (yes, it was a holiday gift), and it’s about 3 feet tall, having added at least 6 inches in height in the past year. After about a decade, it may eventually reach 5 to 8 feet tall as a houseplant, but this potted tree will not surprise you with explosive growth. As with so many holiday gift plants, some Florida gardeners may be able to plant their Norfolk Island pine in their landscape after they are done enjoying its beauty indoors.Indoors, it should be watered every one to two weeks, until excess moisture starts draining out of the bottom of the pot. Outdoor Norfolk pine trees prefer the soil to remain somewhat moist. Once established, it will tolerate somewhat dry conditions.In the wild, Norfolk Island pine plants grow from seeds found in their cone-like seed pods. That is far and away the best way to undertake Norfolk pine propagation. Although it is possible to root cuttings, the resulting trees lack the branch symmetry that make Norfolk pines so attractive.Yes, Norfolk Island pines appreciate being misted regularly, especially in dry environments, as they thrive in high humidity conditions and misting helps replicate their natural habitat on Norfolk Island; it’s a good way to increase the moisture around the plant, particularly during winter when indoor heating can dry .
Can a Norfolk pine live outside in Canada?
A common question is if Norfolks can be planted outside, and the answer is no because they do not like the cold. During the summer months they can be placed outside in a shaded area, but need to be transitioned back inside before frost occurs. It’s also time to think about Norfolk Island pine pruning. Trimming a Norfolk Island pine will include the removal of dead and dying branches. Sometimes, Norfolk Island pines drop so many branches that only bare trunks remain with tufts of growth at the tip.Apply a balanced (20-20-20) liquid fertilizer to Norfolk Island Pine every two (2) weeks during the growing period. In the summer, especially if grown outdoors, feed plants with an acid fertilizer such as rhododendron food as the high nitrogen concentration stimulates better foliage growth.The trees thrive outside in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11. In these warm zones you can grow Norfolk Island pine in the garden.While this tree can grow quite large in its natural habitat, Norfolk Island pine is slow growing.You’ll want a high-quality soil like Miracle-Gro® Indoor Potting Mix, which is enriched with organic matter and gives your Norfolk Pine the nutrients it needs for optimal growth.